Should You Get a Summer Job?

It’s summer, which means it’s summer jobs season! What’s the big deal about summer jobs, you say? All your friends are getting them. Should you get one, too? I think so! Here are some reasons you should get a part-time job this summer.

Add to your resume

Having something to add to the resume is the main reason many people get part-time summer jobs. And who can blame them? Employers and graduate school admissions committees love to see a resume that shows you are a hardworking person. Plus, if you’re working in a field you’re interested in (for example, if you’re interning at a company you hope to work for in the future), your boss can serve as a mentor and a guide to help you achieve your goal of working there.

Photo via Isorepublic.com

Build skills you need for future employment

By the time you enter the workforce, you are expected to have certain skills. Some of those skills include time management, customer service, working on a team, organizational skills, etc. Working part-time over the summer will give you an opportunity to build (or sharpen) these skills that are so valuable in the workplace. A part-time summer job will help you build skills you will need in your future job.

Prepare for your field (if working in a field you’re interested in)

Working part-time in the field you’re interested in is an awesome way to spend your summer. You will learn what it’s truly like to spend a day in your dream profession because it’s not always like what they tell you.

Being a biology major and interning over the summer taught me that taking a biology lab class and actually working in a lab on campus are two very different things. Building off the last point, you will gain the specific skills needed for your field. You might discover you love it, or even that you hate it. Either way, working over the summer will be an awesome learning experience and help prepare you for your future.

Explore your options

Working over the summer gives you the opportunity to explore different fields you can work in. If you are not sure what kind of career you want to pursue, it’s the perfect opportunity to try other fields of study. You might even want to try working in a field you don’t know much about.

The point is to expose yourself to different options. When you are exposed to different options, you can make a better-informed choice when it’s time to choose your career. Use this summer to help you discover what fields you truly are interested in.

Meet new friends

Another reason to work over the summer is to make new friends. You’ll be spending quite a lot of time with your co-workers, so working is a great way to get to make friends, especially if you hang out outside of work. You will meet people you might have never interacted with otherwise. Who knows, you might even meet a new close friend!

Be productive

I don’t know about you, but I hate it when I am being unproductive. I hate feeling like I’m doing nothing. A lot of people feel that way during the summer because they aren’t doing anything productive. But if you get a part-time summer job and spend your time working, you will not feel that way because you will be productive. You will be investing in your future and doing something worthwhile. And that is a great feeling.

Make money

Of course, another main reason people work over the summer is to make money. It’s always good to make money. That way, you won’t feel guilty for splurging on something you’ve been wanting for a long time because you’ve worked for it. It’s also a good idea to save your money for another time or to create an emergency fund.

Learn how to handle money

Similarly, having money comes with learning how to manage it. You will quickly learn you can’t just blow all your money on food, coffee, or on other things you want. Getting a job (and getting money) will teach you how to be responsible with and accountable for your money.

If you need help handling your money, there are many apps out there (like Mint) that will help you track where you are spending your money. Once you see where you’re spending your money, you can make adjustments to your spending habits.

So if you are debating whether or not to get a part-time summer job, take the plunge and do it! You will gain knowledge, skills, friendships, and even money, and it will help open doors of opportunity for your future.